In the summer of 2023 Tag Heuer released the Monaco Racing Blue, a limited edition of 1,000 pieces dedicated to the historic colour of French race cars like the Bugatti Type 35. In the article covering that launch I said, “if Tag Heuer were ever to release a Racing Green edition in celebration of British racing green, I would fall over myself trying to get one”. Well, I have news. Tag Heuer have indeed released the Monaco Chronograph Racing Green and I have been able to get hands on with it. So, does it live up to my own hype?
In short, yes. After the craziness of the recent Skeleton and Split-Seconds editions, I really like the understated quality of the Racing Green. It has a 39mm titanium case with a dark grey colouration that’s paired with a bright, silver tone dial with sunray brushed finishing. There’s no ostentatious openworking on display, just a classic dial in metallic tones. Back to the sporty, racing roots of the Monaco.
It feels appropriately sporty on the wrist too. The lightweight property of titanium means the watch weighs barely anything, meaning you can easily picture it on your wrist as you whip around the circuit on a track day without impeding your movement. Further to that, it’s presented on a perforated leather strap (in racing green) which helps to keep the watch lightweight while also preventing your wrist getting overly sweaty during vigorous activities. It’s supremely comfortable, even to the point of being uncanny, lacking the familiar weight of a tool watch.
Bringing our attention back to the dial, it has the signature bicompax subdial layout with a small seconds indicator at 3 o’clock and a 30-minute timer at 9. It’s these subdials that are British Racing Green in colour, a shade first made popular in the early 1900s, when a Napier 50 won the 1902 Gordon Bennett cup wearing livery of this colour. Since then it has become a staple of the British racing scene including, perhaps most famously of all, on the Jaguar E-Type. It’s a shade that manages to be impactful without being overwhelming or garish, suiting the Monaco down to a tee.
Adding a spot of brightness is the vivid yellow chronograph seconds hand on the central handstack. It’s operated using the chronograph pushers that it on the edge of the case at 2 and 4 o’clock. Interestingly the crown is not situated between them but on the opposite side at 9 o’clock, an unusual placement that’s based on the original heritage model from 1969. The idea of which is that it doesn’t dig into your hand when you bend your wrist, as you need to do while driving.
Flipping the watch over reveals an exhibition caseback through which you can see the Calibre 11. It’s one of Tag Heuer’s Sellita based movements, making use of the Sellita SW300 which provides solid but not crazy specs such as a 40-hour power reserve. It has a nice level of finishing with perlage and Geneva stripes. The titanium caseback also bears an inscription of “One of 1000”, marking it as a limited edition.
It’s priced at £8,150, which is about what you’d expect from a titanium limited edition. It comes in neatly below the various skeleton dial or DLC coated editions but above the standard steel ones. Admittedly for this price I would like to see an improved power reserve, but on the whole I really do like this version of the Monaco. It really does feel like it goes back to the collection’s roots.
Price and Specs:
More details at Tag Heuer.
